Preach To You

Not everyone aspires to nor is called to be a preacher. My Dad planned to be a journalist and that was his pursuit when he left home for college. God, of course, had other plans for him! May I suggest, however, we are all called to ... preach. Although a shepherd then a king, hear David preach in Psalm 3: "You, O LORD, are a shield for me ... Salvation belongs to the LORD." (from Verses 3 and 8). David's circumstances were dire and the skeptics mocked him for his trust in God; what a temptation for fear and doubt to creep in. What does David do? He preaches ... to himself the great truths about the God he loves. On previous occasions God had heard his cry for help (V.4) ... had struck and shattered the power of his enemies (V.7). I suspect most of us have not entertained any notion of preaching to ourself but clearly David made it a practice! Paul David Tripp writes: "If you’re going to live in a culture of skeptics, you have to constantly preach to yourself the truths of the gospel of who God is, and what he does." Nothing disarms the enemy and brings deliverance for the child of God like truth as given by God in His Word. Make yourself an audience of one ... one that preaches and practices truth. Preach truth to yourself!

Powerless Troubles

My Nanny used an expression that still makes me giggle: whenever someone would get all riled up about something, she would say that person was "in the stew." Nanny was known for her delicious stew (or hash as we called it). I can't even remember all the ground-up things she put into it but it was a family favorite! Life's situations, circumstances, relationships, uncertainties are hard to navigate; the enemy uses these things to overwhelm us and put us ... in the stew. Jesus' time on earth drew near; as He spoke of coming events, His disciples were confused and troubled. Jesus comforted and encouraged them with these words: "Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me" (John 14:1 NASB). As Jesus said to His closest of friends, He says to us today: don't let things of this life with all its moving parts cause you inward commotion, to take away your calmness of mind, to disturb and disquiet you, to make your spirit restless or stir you up within, to strike you with fear or dread, to render you anxious and distressed, to perplex your mind and lead you into doubt. With tender assurance, Jesus adds, "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful." (John 14:27 NASB). This peace he promises is beyond understanding and comprehension - it's a calm of soul and spirit when calmness seems unlikely; it's confident hope rather the wringing of hands; a trust in something beyond the moment's chaos; a rest in the most restless moment. Trouble needs no invitation into our days - it comes boldly and does its best to takeover, settle in and make itself right at home. Give your troubles to Jesus and they quickly become ... powerless troubles.

Rest In Him

Have you ever watched a toddler move from one interest to the next - what intrigues him one moment soon becomes a thing of the past as he moves on to the next thing. We laugh at the things that catch his eye, i.e. the toy's box rather than the toy. It would be funny if it weren't so true of our adult nature as well! Genesis 3:6 tells us how Eve "saw that the tree was good for food ... it was a delight to the eyes ... the tree was desirable," which led her to disobey God. The decision [to eat from the tree] changed everything for her and for all of mankind thereafter. Genesis 3:7 describes the result: their (woman and man) eyes were opened. Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth writes of Eve's choice: "Instead of promised rewards, she found herself with a mouthful of worms - shame, guilt, and fear, alienated from her husband and from her God." This inherent sin-nature is the driving force for our ever-seeking wandering heart - not much removed from that toddler. It has been said every person has a "God-shaped hole" - an innate longing of the heart for something outside of itself . Ecclesiastes 3:11 tells us God has "put eternity into man's heart."  We are made by The Creator to be in fellowship with Him, within us a desire to connect with Him. The searching leads us to many things yet there is and ever will be only One Who perfectly fills and satisfies that "God-shaped hole." Those whose searching hearts wisely conclude Christ as all-sufficient, find a rest and contentment from the incessant wandering from one thing to another. Jean Sophia Pigott's 1876 hymn has become one of my favorite in recent years: Jesus, I am resting, resting in the joy of what Thou art - I am finding out the greatness of Thy loving heart." Do you find yourself longing for more in this soul-searching world? There is satisfaction, fulfillment, peace and rest ... found in only in the The All-Sufficient Savior ... rest in Him.

Precious Delight

The word "overflow" is not typically associated with anything good! The overflowing of a toilet or a glass or a room at capacity sends us into immediate action or an alternative plan. God tells us in His Word: "Delight yourself in the LORD" (Psalm 97:4). Oh, how I need to preach these words to myself as I often allow circumstances to bring-on anxiety, confusion and fear! Charles Spurgeon writes, "The teaching of these words must seem very surprising to those who are strangers to godliness, but to the sincere believer it is only the statement of obvious truth." (Morning and Evening). Those who have not made it a habit to sit quietly at the feet of The Savior and savor His Presence cannot know know the overflowing and sustaining delight found only in Him. In those moments with Him, a tethering takes place - an attachment, a fastening - of God to His child. The delight of those moments unite me to Him in a way that cannot be explained, only personally experienced. Psalm 34:8 says we must personally "taste and see" His goodness. Overflow is a result of that "taste and see" and it is a ... precious delight.

BLOG BREAK

Enjoying a week with the family  

MWB will resume Monday 06-15
Stay in The Word!
Miles of Smiles, Beverly